Approaching the port of Skala, you can’t take your eyes off the monumental grid of medieval walls that emerge as if staking their claim over the island. Inching ever closer to Patmos island, your eyes will be drawn further down the hill to the fringes of white houses that circle Chora all the way to the pretty harbor of Skala. Stepping foot on the island of Patmos you’ll be bowled over by its ageless, touching presence – villages appear undisturbed for centuries and its natural volcanic beauty captivates and absorbs all your attention. Patmos is also steeped in history: where architecture remains testament to Greek, Roman and Byzantine influences. And legends say that St John was inspired to write the Book of Revelations here. The picturesque harbor of Skala may appear small on the outside, but a wealth of quality bakeries, shops and tavernas line the waterfront promenade tempting you to take a break and enjoy a refreshing drink. With no big towns; just secluded bays, towering cliffs and untouched landscapes, Patmos is as authentic as they come.
For better or worse, it can be difficult to reach Patmos—for many travelers, this lack of access is definitely for the better, since the island retains the air of an unspoiled retreat. Rocky and barren, the small, 34-square-km (21-square-mi) island lies beyond the islands of Kalymnos and Leros, northwest of Kos. Here on a hillside is the Monastery of the Apocalypse, which enshrines the cave where St. John received the Revelation in AD 95. Scattered evidence of Mycenaean presence remains on Patmos, and walls of the classical period indicate the existence of a town near Skala. Most of the island's approximately 2,800 people live in three villages: Skala, medieval Chora, and the small rural settlement of Kambos. The island is popular among the faithful making pilgrimages to the monastery as well as with vacationing Athenians and a newly growing community of international trendsetters—designers, artists, poets, and “taste gurus” (to quote Vogue’s July 2011 write-up of the island)—who have bought homes in Chora. These stylemeisters followed in the footsteps of Alexandrian John Stefanidis and the English artist Teddy Millington-Drake who, in the early ’60s, set about creating what eventually became hailed as one of the most gorgeous island homes in the world. The word soon spread thanks to their many guests (who included Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis) but, happily, administrators have carefully contained development, and as a result, Patmos retains its charm and natural beauty—even in the busy month of August.
Start Time
Nov 24 4:00PM EET
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End Time
Nov 24 9:00PM EET